Jalpaiguri, March 3: A month ago, Nabin Kisku, Pushpa Sharma and Manju Oraon were eagerly awaiting the day when they would take the first test to determine their futures. Instead, the three found themselves behind bars even as their classmates appeared in the Madhyamik examinations that began today.

The three were among the 35 people arrested on February 24 from Chengmari tea garden on charges of pelting stones at the police and attacking them.

The incident left 16 policemen injured.

Jaideep Bhowmik, the lawyer representing the trio, said: “They are innocent. I had filed a bail petition in the subdivisional judicial magistrate’s court on Saturday but the plea was rejected. I have again appealed to the district court today on their behalf.”

“They know very well that the examination has started from today. So everything is over for them. Due to the apathy of the police, they have lost a year in their education,” Bhowmik said.

On February 24, the police were reportedly attacked by labourers of the Chengmari tea garden when they went there to arrest some “wanted culprits” involved in a clash that took place on February 9.

The police had to lob teargas shells and open fire, in which three persons died.

Thirty-five people, including 23 women, were arrested.

Among those arrested were which women like Aarti Chettri, who was in her eighth month of pregnancy, and girls like Pushpa and Manju, who are students of Chengmari Tea Garden High School.

After the three students were produced at Jalpaiguri court on February 25, they were remanded in custody.

Desperate to get them out on bail, Bhowmik filed petitions but they were rejected.

“At least they could be allowed to appear in the examination in jail custody. Even that was not allowed,” he said.

According to an official attached to the district school board, there are provisions to allow a candidate appear in the examination in custody.

“A petition or application is necessary in this respect. A period of five to seven days is needed to get permission,” he said.

The situation remained peaceful in the district on the first day of the Madhyamik examination with 24,959 candidates appearing in the entire district.

According to school board sources, about 13,576 boys and 11,283 girls appeared in the examination this year.

Eighty-six schools in the district have been chosen as centres for the examination.